Tripartite symbiosis of Pisum–Glomus–Rhizobium leads to enhanced productivity, nitrogen and phosphorus economy, quality, and biofortification in garden pea in a Himalayan acid Alfisol

ABSTRACT

The present study was carried out to assess nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) economy, quality, and productivity of garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) through dual-inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Rhizobium in an acid Alfisol. Experiment was laid out in randomized block design replicated thrice comprising 13 treatments viz. Rhizobium along with three graded N levels (25%, 50%, and 75% soil-test-based recommended N), AMF along with three graded P levels (25%, 50%, and 75% soil-test-based recommended P), dual-inoculation of AMF and Rhizobium conjoint with four graded N and P levels (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% soil-test-based recommended N and P), and three other treatments viz. generalized recommended NP potassium (K) dose (GRD), farmers' practice, and absolute control. The results revealed that dual-inoculation of AMF and Rhizobium enhanced the pea productivity, macronutrient (NPK) and micronutrient iron, copper, zinc, and manganese (Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn) concentrations, and their uptake besides enhancing garden pea quality. Also, dual-inoculation of both symbionts at 75% and 100% soil-test-based N and P dose behaved statistically alike with respect to pea pod yield, NPK uptake, and quality parameters like total soluble solids (TSS) and crude protein (CP), thus indicating an economy of about 25% soil-test-based N and P dose through co-inoculation. AMF and Rhizobium dual-inoculated treatments led to enhanced TSS and CP in pea pods by 4.2% and 6.2%, respectively, over GRD, while sole application of AMF- or Rhizobium-imbedded treatments could enhance these quality parameters by 2.1% only in each case. Similarly, the highest N and P response ratio was registered in dual-inoculated treatments. Overall, dual-inoculation of AMF and Rhizobium with 75% soil-test-based N and P dose in pea can save up to 25% fertilizer N and P dose in acid Alfisol.Also, this tripartite symbiosis besides enhancing pea quality led to better bio-fortified pea seeds with micronutrients especially Fe and Zn, which can greatly curtail the widespread anemia and Zn deficiency in humans living in Himalayan acid Alfisol.

KEYWORDS:

• arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
• biofortification
• micronutrients
• pea
• phosphorus
• productivity
• quality
• Rhizobium

Funding

Authors are thankful to CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur, India for providing financial and technical assistance for undertaking this study.